Transparent hollow toy ball



Jan. 13, 1953 c" ABEL TRANSPARENT HOLLOW TOY BALL.

Original Filed May 20, 1946 lhlh I Mon 4 60/2054 4551., if. 4 INVENTOR.

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Reissued Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRANSPARENT HOLLOWTOY BALL Mona Cordell Abel, Kew Garden Hills, N. Y.

Original No. 2,515,171, dated July 18, 1950, Serial No. 670,989, May 20,1946. Application for reissue July 16, 1951, Serial No. 237,004

A 14 Claims. (CI. 4641) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention relates to a hollow transparent or translucent toycontaining a body of liquid, such as water, which can gravitate or beforced from one chamber to another while at the same time causinginteresting and amusing visual and optical effects.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a transparent plastictoy of hollow construction divided into chambers and containing a bodyof liquid which is transferrable from one chamber to another by gravityor by pressure.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a hollowtransparent toy divided into chambers by a. partition which affordscommunication between the chambers.

A further object of the invention comprises the provision of a hollowtransparent toy which, upon successive inversions, displays interesting,amusing and attractive effects.

Other and still further objects and advantages will be appreciated bythose skilled in this art or will be apparent or pointed outhereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical medial section taken through a preferred toyembodying my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but in which the toy has been rotatedthrough an angle of 180.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a modified form of toy having a barrelshape.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a dumb-bellshaped form of toy.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the partition showing the relationshipof the port to a spherical object within the toy.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a detail of the inventiondrawn to an enlarged scale to show the sealing means at the joint of thetwo halves of the toy.

The toy of Figs. 1 and 2 may be spherical or globular and will behereinafter termed ballshaped for convenience and brevity, it beingunderstood that such term is used in its broad and generic senseembracing numerous variations in size, outline and appearance. Theball-shaped form of toy represents the preferred embodiment of theinvention and is composed of three structural members, namely, thehemispherical members l0 and It and the compartmenting member I2 whichdivides the hollow interior into a plurality of chambers l3 and i4.Members to and II are preferably of transparent plastic material but maybe made of glass, if desired, or other suitable material. For bestresults, members l0 and II should be clear and highly transparent, butmay, optionally, be translucent or partially decorated on portions oftheir surfaces to carry out a desired motif or to suggest or enhance adesired visual or optical effect. Either of the hemispherical members(II in the particular illustration shown in the drawing) may be shapedto receive the other, such as the offset flange l5 of hemisphere II andat such flange members II), II and 12 are cemented together in permanentassociation.

Compartmenting member I2 is provided with one or more apertures I6 whichafford communication between chambers l3 and It. These apertures may becentrally located, as shown, or may be arranged in a pattern or group inone or more areas of member l2. While a frusto-conical shield I1 isshown as surrounding one side of apertures [6, such may be omitted, ifpreferred, or varied as to shape and size. An arcuate ventpipe l8 risesfrom one side of member t2 (the opposite side from shield l1) adjacentthe outer edge of such member and extends well up into chamber l3,terminating close to the paddles I9 01' rotatable water-wheel 20 mountedon a standard 2i projecting radially inwardly from the polar portion ofhemisphere HI. Member I2 is provided with an aperture 22 which ofrelatively long and narrow oval shape and the central part of whichcommunicates with the bore of ventpipe I8. l E

The toy contains a body of liquid, preferably water, a body of air orother gas, and a suitable assortment of balls 23, imitation fish 24 andimitation turtles 25 and/or other marine animals and objects, some beingon each side of member I2. A toy figure, represented at 26, ispositioned at the polar portion of hemisphere II and extends radiallyinwardly as illustrated, the said figure being diametrically oppositewaterwheel 20 and both being in line with one or more (preferably agroup) of apertures it. Each of the members [0 and II has an externalbase 21 at its polar portion which is capable of serving as a stand.

When the toy is in the position of Fig. 1. the liquid, which was all inchamber [3 from a previous cycle of operation, "rains" or showers downthrough apertures Ii onto Figure 28. Shield ll limits the area of theraining efiect and, more importantly, prevents liquid passing throughapertures I6 from following along the under-surface of member 12 as anadvancing film. It is preferred to add a surface active agent to theliquid to lower the surface tension thereof and to ensure the raining"eifect, said agent being any of the many compounds well-known forreducing surface tensions, such as the cationic agents or the quaternaryammonium type. Air displaced by the transfer of liquid from chamber I!to chamber ll passes through aperture 22 and vent-pipe II, the movementof air causing some turning oi water-wheel ill. The tree objects inchamber I! drop with the lowering liquid level and the objects inchamber ll rise with the rising liquid level. These objects arepreferably, but not necessarily, buoyant so that they float and they areusually appropriately or attractively colored, in this connection itbeing pointed out that the water or other liquid body may also becolored as by the addition of a dye or coloring material.

when the toy is inverted to the position of Fig. 2. liquid runs downvent-pipe l8 and impinges against the vanes of the water-wheel 20 toturn it. Displaced air finds its way up through the apertures ID. Thecharacter of aperture 22 prevents it from being sealed oil it one of theballs 23 or objects happens to rest over such aperture as will beappreciated.

Instead of making the toy ball-shaped, it may, if desired, be given someother form such as that of a barrel (Fig. 3) or a dumb-bell (Fig. 4)Besides, the toy, if desired, may have more than two compartments orchambers all of which may communicate. These modifications will beunderstood without any detailed explanation thereof in view of thenumerals thereon. Other modifications may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or principle of the invention which is ratherdefined by the appended claims.

I! desired, a highly volatile liquid may be used in place of the water,in which case, application of the warm hand to the surface of the uppercompartment ll in Fig. 2, would speed up the transfer of the liquid fromthe upper to the lower chamber via tube I8. In such case, however, itwould be desirable to evacuate the air from the toy before sealing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: a

1. An invertable toy comprising a pair of transparent hollow sectionssecured together to form a chamber, an apertured compartmenting membersecured within said chamber and dividing the interior into a pair ofcompartments, a rotatable water-wheel disposed in one or thecompartments, a toy figure disposed in the other of said compartments, aquantity of liquid within the toy, said liquid being transierrableselectively from one compartment to the other via said apertures, saidtoy also containing a plurality of free objects, external base portionson opposite sides of the toy so located that when the toy rests on onebase the figure is showered with liquid and a vent pipe providingcommunication between said compartments, the area of opening in saidvent pipe being greater than the area of any of the apertures.

2. A ball-shaped toy comprising a pair 01' hollow transparent plastichemispheres secured together to form a spherical chamber, an aperturedpartition dividing the interior oi the chamber into a pair ofhemispherical compartments, a rotatable water-wheel disposed at thepolar portion of one hemisphere, a toy figure disposed at the polarportion of the other hemisphere, a body of liquid within the toy, saidliquid being transierrable selectively from one compartment to the othervia said apertures by inverting said toy alternately from one base tothe other, said toy also containing a plurality of free objects, and anexternal base on the polar portion of each such hemisphere, saidpartition being also provided with a vent-pipe, the bore of whichcommunicates with an elongated aperture in said member.

3. An invertable toy comprising a plurality of transparent plastichollow sections secured together to form a chamber, an aperturedpartition member secured within said toy and dividing the interior intoa pair of compartments. an object having a movable portion disposedadjacent one end or said chamber, a toy figure disposed at the other endof said chamber, a body of liquid wholly receivable within one oi. thecompartments, an external base on each end of the toy and a pipeproviding communication between said compartments, the distal end ofsaid pipe terminating in close proximity to said movable portion of saidobject.

4. A ball-shaped toy comprising a pair of hollow transparent plastichemispheres secured together to form a spherical chamber, an aperturedpartition member secured between said hemispheres and dividing theinterior into a pair of hemispherical compartments, a pipe providingcommunication between said compartments, an object having a movableportion disposed at the polar portion oi one hemisphere, one end 01'said pipe terminating in close proximity to said movable portion, a toyfigure disposed at the polar portion of the other hemisphere, a body ofliquid wholly receivable within one of the compartments andtransferrable selectively from the compartment having said movableportion, to the other via said apertures, and from the other compartmentto the first-mentioned compartment via said pipe, the toy alsocontaining a plurality of tree objects and an external base on the polarportion of each such hemisphere, said toy figure being in line withapertures in said member.

5. A toy comprising a pair of transparent hollow sections securedtogether to form a hermetically sealed chamber, an aperturedcompartmenting member secured within said chamber and dividing theinterior thereoi into compartments, a fixed object having a movable partand disposed in one compartment remote from said member, a toy figuredisposed in the other compartment remote from said member, a body ofliquid within the toy transferrable from one compartment to the otherand containing a plurality of objects and an external base on eachsection at opposite ends of the chamber, said body of liquid having avolume not greater than sufllcient to fill one or the compartments andcontaining a surface-active agent which lowers its surface tensionappreciably.

6. A ball-shaped toy comprising a pair of hollow transparent plastichemispheres secured together to form a spherical chamber, an aperturedcompartmenting [chamber] m mber secured within said hemispheres anddividing the interior into a pair of hemispherical compartments, a pipeproviding communication between said compartments, a rotatablewater-wheel disposed at the polar region of one hemisphere, a toy figuredisposed at the polar region of the other hemisphere, a body of liquidwithin the chamber transferrable selectively from the water-wheelcompartment to the other via said apertures, and from said othercompartment to the water-wheel compartment via said pipe, a plurality ortree objects within the chamber and an external base on the polarportion of each such hemisphere, said body of liquid containing asurface-active agent which lowers its surface tension appreciably.

'l. A toy comprising a hollow transparent plastic body, an aperturedpartition member dividing the interior of the body into a pair ofcompartments, a rotatable water-wheel disposed at one end of onecompartment, a toy figure disposed at an end of the other compartment, abody of liquid within the toy and containing a plurality of treeobjects, said liquid being transferrable selectively from onecompartment to the other via said apertures, and an external base on theend of each such compartment, said partition member being also providedwith a ventpipe, the bore of which communicates with an elongatedaperture in said member, and the distal end of said pipe terminating inclose proximity to said water-wheel.

8. An invertable toy comprising a pair of transparent hollow sectionssecured together to form a hermetically sealed chamber, an aperturedcompartmenting member secured within said chamber and dividing theinterior into a pair of compartments, an object having a movable portiondisposed in one of the compartments, a quantity of liquid within thetoy, said liquid being transferrable selectively from one compartment tothe other via said apertures, and a vent pipe providing communicationbetween said compartments.

9. An invertable toy comprising a plurality of transparent plastichollow sections secured together to form a chamber, an aperturedpartition member secured within said toy and dividing the interior intoa pair of compartments, an object having a movable portion disposed inone of said compartments, a toy figure disposed in the othercompartment, a body of liquid receivable within one of the compartments,an external base on each end of the toy and a pipe providingcommunication between said compartments.

10. A ball-shaped toy comprising a pair of hollow transparent plastichemispheres secured together to form a spherical chamber, an aperturedpartition member secured between said hemispheres and dividing theinterior into a pair of hemispherical compartments, a pipe providingcommunication between said compartments, an object having a movableportion disposed in one hemisphere, one end of said pipe terminating inclose proximity to said movable (portion, a toy figure disposed in theother hemisph re, a body of liquid wholly receivable within one of thecompartments and transferrable selectively from the compartment havingsaid movable portion, to the other via said apertures, and from theother compartment to the flrstmentioned compartment via said pipe.

11. A toy comprising a pair of transparent hollow sections securedtogether to form a hermctically sealed chamber, an aperturedcompartmenting member secured within said chamber and dividing theinterior thereof into compart ments, 0, fixed object having a movablepart and disposed in one compartment, a toy figure disposed in the othercompartment, a. body of liquid within the toy transferrable from onecompartment to the other, and an external base on each section atopposite ends of the chamber, said body of liquid having a. volume notgreater than suyicient to fill one of the compartments and containing asurface-active agent which lowers its surface tension appreciably.

12. A toy comprising a hollow transparent plastic body, an aperturedpartition member dividing the interior of the body into a pair ofcompartments, a rotatable water-wheel disposed in one compartment, a toyfigure disposed in the other compartment, a body of liquid within thetoy and containing a plurality of free objects, said liquid beingtransferrable selectively from one compartment to the other via saidapertures, said partition member being also provided with a vent-pipe,the bore of which communicates with an elongated aperture in saidmember, and the distal end of said pipe terminating in close proximityto said water-wheel.

13. An invertable toy comprising a plurality of transparent plastichollow sections secured together to form a chamber, an aperturedpartition member secured within said toy and dividing the interior intoa pair of compartments, a pipe providing communication between saidcompartments, an object having a. movable portion disposed in one ofsaid compartments, one end of said pipe terminating in proximity to saidmovable portion, a body of liquid wholly receivable within one of thecompartments and transferrable selectively from the compartment havingsaid movable portion to the other via said apertures, and from the othercompartment to the first-mentioned compartment via said pipe.

14. A device comprising a hollow spherical housing of transparentmaterial, a diametrical partition in said housing dividing the housinginto two substantially equal compartments, said partition having thereinone aperture located adjacent the wall of said housing and a secondaperture smaller than said first aperture and spaced therefrom, a curvedtube secured at one end in said one aperture and extending along theinterior surface of the wall of said housing substantially to a locationat which a diameter of said housing perpendicular to said partitionintersects the wall of said housing in one of said compartments, aliquid level indicator in the other of said compartments, a body ofliquid in said housing, and a base on said housing arranged to supportsaid housing on a substantially horizontal surface with said partitionsubstantially horizontal and with said one compartment above and saidother compartment below said partition, the quantity of liquid in saidhousing being such as to require a predetermined time to pass throughsaid second aperture from the upper to the lower compartment and beingquickly returnable through said tube from said other to said onecompartment when said housing is inverted.

MONA CORDELL ABEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 362,421 Buddington May 3, 18872,115,986 Da Costa May 3, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date374,124 Great Britain June 6, 1932 515,089 Germany Dec. 24, 1930 516,946Germany May 26, 1931

